HOW MUCH DOES MY FACE COST? WORK EDITION

Not the best photo in the world but I was in a rush to actually get to work when this was taken. My hair just wasn't behaving that day either but you get the jist of the makeup look I wear for work at least...

I'm going to be doing the 'How much does my face cost?' series in three posts: work, weekend and going out. I think it's unfair to simply lump it all into one category and I use different products in different situations. 

I was a little dubious about writing this post because I never wanted to admit to myself just how much money was on my mug. I like to think that because I use higher end products for the basics and then use more budget-friendly brands for everything else that I can save money somewhere but having quickly surveyed and photographed what I use every single day I think it's safe to say that I am going to be in for a rather big shock.


First up: work.


For five days out of six I wear this make up all the time. My shifts are short - four hours at a maximum before I have a break. Sometimes I only have to do four hours, sometimes I'm there for nine. I need make up that is easy to touch up and, probably the most important thing of all, looks natural.


The policy at work is that we're not allowed to wear make up that is 'too obvious' although some people's interpretation of this is a little eyebrow raising (yes, I'm looking at YOU too lip liner lady - this is not the 90's). I always wear makeup to work now I have my new job. Partly because I have done since Day One and partly because I don't want anyone to ask me why I look like poo if I don't.

BASE PRODUCTS

I spend a lot of time on my base for any look but because the air conditioning in the shop seems to constantly be on full blast I always use a primer. Then I really buff in the base with a stippling brush. I once made the mistake of thinking I could get away with not doing this. HELL NO. Customers picked up on it straight away and I looked ridiculous. I apply concealer to any problem areas with a brush and blend blend blend that too. Then I contour my cheeks using a pressed powder. I find bronzers to be too dark on my skin so a pressed powder that's two to three shades darker than my normal shade is brilliant and really subtle.

Revlon Photo Ready Perfecting Primer - £11.99 - Shop

Dior Forever Skin Liquid Foundation in Shade 010 - £31.00 - Review - Shop

Soap and Glory Kick Ass Concealer in 'Light' - £10.00 - Review - Shop

MUA Pressed Powder in '03' - £1.00 - Shop

CHEEKS, EYES AND LIPS

I tend to rush through these parts as I've spent so long on perfecting my base. I start with my eyebrows and brush a small amount of powder through them just to define them slightly before I set them with a gel so they don't go wild. Mascara is then applied. After this I apply blush all over my cheeks in a natural colour that gives a pretty flush. I tend to vary my blusher shade quite a lot but I tend to stick to FashionistA most of the time. After that I slick on a really subtle hint of colour to my lips.

HD Brow Kit in 'Vamp' - £19.00 - Review - Shop

Estee Lauder Double Wear Mascara - £19.50 - Review - Shop

FashionistA Blush - £4.00 - Review - Shop

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in 'Honey' - £7.99 - Review - Shop

BRUSHES

I use a multitude of brushes for my every day look. To be honest I don't especially like using my fingers unless I have to - maybe sometimes I use it to apply and blend concealer if I can't find the brush that I want. Most of these brushes have come out of sets so where that has happened I have divided the price of the set between each brush in it to give a rough idea of how much it actually cost me.

Real Techniques Stippling Brush - £11.99 - Review - Shop

Random Concealer Brush - Price and Origin unknown (sorry!) so at a guess £1

Real Techniques Contour Brush - £5.50 - Review - Shop

Real Techniques Brow Brush - £4.40 - Review - Shop

Real Techniques Blush Brush - £9.99 - Review - Shop

GRAND TOTAL: £274.23

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the total to be honest. I expected it to be less so shock is quite high on the list of emotions. Obviously per use of each item my makeup will cost less but with everything taken into consideration that is A LOT of money on cosmetics that only make me look 'natural'. I know it would be cheaper if I didn't include the brushes but I wanted a true representation of what it takes to simply go to work each day. Maybe it's time to find a cheap foundation for work in the future... Recommendations?